Plenty of Muscle
to take on Big
Game, the reasonably priced Shimano Tyrnos

Date:

10/17/05

Tackle type:

Reels

Manufacturer:

Shimano

Reviewer:

JIP

Total Score: 8.33

Introduction: Shimano has
built a high-speed offshore reel for targeting big game fish either on the troll
or tossing bait. The Shimano Tyrnos levelwind reel is bulletproof and lighter
than most reels of its size, and this season we had the opportunity to put the
Shimano Tyrnos up against some good size Albacore tuna in the deep blue waters
of the Pacific Ocean.

Impressions: The first
thing many anglers notice when they set eye on the new Tyrnos is the color of
the reel. Some have even mistaken this reel for being a larger Torium or even a
Tekota. Though the Tyrnos holds the same brand and reliability of the Torium and
Tekota, it is a completely new beast. The Shimano Tyrnos is designed to tackle
big game fish either on the troll or tossing bait with supportive features to
ensure the highest performance. You will find such things as Shimano’s trusty A-RB
(Anti-Rust Bearings), oversized gears, oversized handle shank and knob, and twin
pawl anti-reverse mechanism. The Tyrnos 30 is actually quite lightweight
compared to some other reels of this size and weighs in at only 38.1 ounces
thanks to its graphite sideplates with structural aluminum braces. Though the
side plates are made of graphite, you won’t have to worry about durability
because the reel sports a die cast aluminum frame.

A loud clicker is incorporated into the
Tyrnos

Complete Rig
for Tyrnos 30 Tests

Rods

Quantum CaboPT Offshore

Reel

Shimano Tyrnos (TYR30)

Lines

50
lb Ande Premium

Field Tests:Built for
high-speed applications with a gear ratio of 5.0:1, the Tyrnos isn’t for every
type of fish. Rather this reel is good for smaller big game fish such as small
Bluefin tuna, Albacore, Dorado, Wahoo, etc. Using the Tyrnos TYR30 we trolled
and fished irons and swimbaits on the slide for Albacore tuna 40 miles off the
coast of California.

Graphite sideplates reduces the overall
weight

Casting/Trolling:
Like most big game reels, the Tyrnos wasn’t designed for casting, and while we
didn’t put this reel to any real casting tests, we did perform a few underhanded
chucks when setting the trolling spread and live baiting and fishing on the
slide. To let line out pull the lever drag towards you to decrease the amount of
drag pressure on the spool until a desired line flow is achieved. If you wish to
let line out at freespool, set the lever to the “free” position to completely
disengage the drag. Do so with caution when letting line out at freespool
because you still can create a nasty birdnest with thick 50 pound fishing line.
We recommend you set the clicker on when freespooling line off the spool to
prevent birdnests or loose line on the spool, which can become problematic when
a fish peels line from the reel while trolling.

Though high-speed, this conventional reel has
plenty of power

Retrieve &
Power:
Most single-speed offshore trolling reels are designed with a lower gear ratio
for greater power under the load of a huge fish. At first we were uncertain as
to how the Tyrnos’ 5.0:1 would do when battling Albacore tuna but after I landed
our first fish, a 27 pounder, a big smile lit up on my face. While I was playing
tug-o-war with the tuna I knew I had an upper hand when with each turn of the
handle I gained a lot of ground. Thanks to the oversized gears and powerful long
shank handle and large knob, I was able translate my muscles through the reel to
bring the fish to the surface.